The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.----------Chinese state-owned firm halts new rare earth contracts with JapanSHANGHAI/BEIJING - A Chinese state-owned rare earth enterprise has informed some Japanese companies that it will not enter into new contracts for shipments to Japan, sources close to the matter said Saturday.The first confirmed case of a Japanese firm being refused the purchase of rare earths is the latest development in an escalating diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in November on a Taiwan …READ FULL ARTICLE